Rising Star (Band Gr. 5)

Juxtaposing two original these, each representing soul and creativity,"Rising Star pays a musical tribute to the life of a student who was taken too soon.

Genre: Band | # of Players: Standard
Series: Diamond Band Series
Level: 5 | Duration: 8:15

Instrumentation
Piccolo
Flute 1
Flute 2
Oboe
Bassoon
B-flat Clarinet 1
B-flat Clarinet 2
B-flat Clarinet 3
B-flat Bass Clarinet
Alto Saxophone 1
Alto Saxophone 2
Tenor Saxophone
Baritone Saxophone

B-flat Trumpet 1
B-flat Trumpet 2
B-flat Trumpet 3
F Horn 1
F Horn 2
F Horn 3
F Horn 4
Trombone 1
Trombone 2
Bass Trombone
Euphonium
B-flat Baritone T.C.
Tuba
Piano

Timpani [4 drums]
Percussion 1: Bells
Percussion 2: Vibraphone
Percussion 3: Marimba [4.5-octave], Brake Drum, Xylophone
Percussion 4: Suspended Cymbal, Snare Drum, Hi-Hat, 4 Concert Toms
Percussion 5: Crash Cymbals, Chimes, Tam-Tam
Percussion 6: Concert Bass Drum, Finger Cymbals

Program Notes
Rising Star was commissioned by parents Tom & Karen Wilson, and sister Jodi Guzak in memory of Brian Scott Wilson. The family wrote the following:

Brian fell in love performing saxophone while in high school at the Plymouth Canton Educational Park (Michigan). In 2004, Brian began college dual majoring in saxophone performance and mathematics at the University of Michigan. Near the end of his sophomore year, he was tragically diagnosed with Glioblastoma, an aggressive brain cancer.

Brian underwent three brain surgeries, radiation treatment, and extensive chemotherapy at the University of Michigan and later at Duke University. He remained a focused full time student, scheduling brain surgeries during spring break or between internships. While Brian was tenacious in his fight against cancer, he realized he needed stable employment after college. He switched his major to aerospace engineering, graduating with honors in 2009. He interned at both Boeing and NASA during his senior year, accepting a position with Boeing. His final Boeing assignment was systems integration on the space launch system. Brian never let his cancer define him. In 2017, after fighting cancer for 11 years, Brian lost his fight.

– Tom & Karen Wilson Jodi Guzak

COMPOSER NOTES
Rising Star is structured around two main themes, the first reflecting the soul of Brian Scott Wilson, and the second alluding to his creative and aerospace engineering talent. After a reflective introduction, the first theme is stated in the horns against a backdrop of eighth notes in the wood- winds and keyboard percussion based on motivic material of the first theme. Following, a cascading pattern of 16ths in the percussion and woodwinds accompany the emergence of the second, "creative" theme stated by solo alto saxophone, which was Brian's instrument. A short fanfare ensues based on the "creative" theme and transitions into the next section where layered rhythms of the saxophone section accompany an augmented version of the "soul" (1st) theme and leading to an interlude. The interlude works through motives of the "soul" theme and becomes increasingly ominous culminating on a dissonant chord as a reminder of Brian's losing battle to cancer. But, a single note on the vibraphone emerges leading to a statement of the "creative" theme by the bells and piano accompanied by clarinets. The tempo increases and the notes become shorter as the music leads to a celebratory fanfare on the first four notes of the"soul" theme. The music becomes more agitated and leads to a three part canon in 6/16 meter on the "creative"theme beginning in trumpets, followed by woodwinds and ending with low brass/woodwinds. This develops into a second fanfare, again using the "soul" theme, and segues into an exhilarating coda in D major culminating in a tour de force of an ascending chromatic scale to the final chords of the work. It is a celebration of Brian's life which was not about his cancer but about an extraordinary young man who, in his short life, became a "rising star."

– David R. Gillingham